By Alina Dizik

Some of the hottest jobs in the country only require an associate degree. And while you can have a higher degree to fill some of them, only an associate degree is a requirement.

For example, growing areas like health care are an especially good choice for those with associate degrees. “The careers provide one on one care, and men and women in these fields like this type of work,” says Kristina Ierardi, coordinator of career services at Cape Cod Community College in Massachusetts.

Here is a list of jobs that are experiencing growth for those with an associate degree, according to the research on the fastest growing occupations released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics:

Veterinary technologist or technician
If you love working with animals (and aren’t squeamish) dealing with peoples furry pets can make for truly enjoyable work. Many technicians or technologists have the same job requirements as that of a nurse for a regular doctor, and often have to perform tests or make the diagnosis for animals. Hiring is estimated to grow by almost 36 percent through 2018.

Dental hygienist
Working directly with dentists, a hygienist often performs routine teeth cleanings on patients as well as provides instructions on proper oral care. Many hygienists have flexible schedules and work with more than one dentist, which can be a great perk of the job. Employment is estimated to grow by 36 percent through 2018.

Registered nurse
Nurses work with a variety of patients to aid physicians of all types. The settings vary drastically from medical offices to extremely specialized floors of a hospital. Registered nurses make up about 28 percent of hospital workers, and there’s a continued need for the profession. Still competition is tough: “Even graduates of our associate degree program in nursing have been encountering fierce competition in the job market, with employers often preferring to hire candidates with a bachelor’s degree,” Ierardi says.

Environmental engineering technician
As interest in sustainability issues increases, environmental engineering technicians will continue to be in high demand. Technicians work with environmental engineers to develop or implement methods that help combat environmental damage. Technicians focus on areas like air pollution, water pollution and recycling. Employment for environmental engineering technicians is estimated to grow by 30 percent through 2018.

Occupational therapy assistants
Working under an occupational therapist, the job of an OT assistant is to help with the mental or physical rehabilitation of patients. Assistants are responsible for teaching patients about proper exercises needed for recovery, and can also work with people who have physical and head injuries or stroke patients, says Morris Pounds a career counselor at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Industrial maintenance technician
Those who enter the industry are required to work on large machines in all areas including manufacturing as well as heating and cooling. Technicians use their mechanical skills and often repair large production machines, Pounds explains. “Many people in the field like to use their analytical mind as well [enjoy] the physical part of the job,” he says.

Choosing a position that fits your skills can be difficult, but many growing fields require only an associate’s level degree to gain employment. That said there are plenty of other opportunities for those starting out with associate degrees. As a high unemployment rate continues, even jobs like retail sales clerks, customer service representatives and bank tellers strongly prefer candidates with an associate degree, Ierardi says. Once you land a position, it may be a good idea to speak with your employer about further opportunities. “Some companies also assist employees in these positions to afford additional educational credentials with tuition assistance, reimbursement or other incentive programs,” she says.